Shadows of deceit

his voice growing colder. "I know you are playing bo

. How did he know? Had he been watc

"If you want to stay in my world, you need to decide whose

how to respond. The pressure was unbearable, a

ill give you a chance to prove where your loyalty lies. But do

rying to hide my un

ighing my words. Then, without another word

ame had just begun, and I had no idea ho

ce of his desk. The silence in the room was suffocating, and the weight of his words from earlier hung heavily

," he said, his voice low but ful

at I had no choice but to follow his orders, but the words stuck in my th

narrowing. "I do not need to ask why, because I already kn

of loyalty to him, but clearly, he was always one step ahead of me. I knew Jack was dangerous, but this w

y voice steady. "I am doing exactly what you have as

ing but comforting. "Is that what you think you a

he was right? What if I had begun to play a dif

ng clear: I do not share what is mine. Not with anyone. And if you think for a second

ad been pushing down began to rise, threatening to

ow, but still defiant. "I am doing exactly what you a

tness,like the calm before a storm. "Then prove it. Make a choice,

knew one thing for sure: the price of betrayal in Jac

on. "Go. But remember this, Hazel. In this world, you are

and this time, I was not sure what to expect. The lines were becoming blurred, and I did not know where I stood any

like a shadow I could not shake. It was not just that I had been forced into this game.I

as tense, the quiet murmur of conversation around us only adding to the feeling of danger tha

rp gaze locking onto mine the moment I walked in. His eyes were f

th, almost too casual for the si

ze never wavered, always watching me, always r

ays," Luca said, swirling the wine in his glass. "Jac